Cutoff machine



ly 1 1942. J. R. ROSENLEAP E 2,288,9

cuToFF MACHINE Filed Nov. 22, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 is b .i g Q W a m N5; K R g v v V INVENTOR. John zuzosnla f Emma?? D; Bnham ATTORNEYS 6Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. sezzieaf and John E.Ea

Filed Nov. 22, 1940 J. R. ROSENLEAF ETAL 8N I HQW I I I I I I I l T Irv![.HLP 5 I I I WU w I n July 7, 1942.

ly 1942- J. R. ROSENLEAF ETAL 2,288,921 CUTOFF MACHINE Filed Nov. 22,.1940 e Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS July 7, 1942.

J. R. RQSENLEAF ETAL CUTOFF MACHINE Filed NOV. 22, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5wwN INVENTOR. ,zf mme/f i. flemfimgnd BY Joim KEo'sen/eaf,

v ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 7, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUT-OFF MACHINEApplication Nevember 22, 1940, Serial No. 366,530

34 Claims.

The present invention relates to mechanism for segregating acontinuously moving stream of plaster board or the like into sections ofdesired and predetermined lengths. The broad idea of providing mechanismfor transversely cutting or scoring or perforating such material duringits flow is by no means new; but it is the'primary object of the presentinvention to improve such mechanism in such a way as to permit theoperator to pre-set his machine so that it will cut boards of anydesired length (subject to a minimum limit), and will score or perforatethe flowing stream at desired points between cuts, the machine being ofsuch character that, by suitable pre-setting, either one or twointermediate markings may be formed at any desired locations withrespect to the ends of the cut sections. Further objects of theinvention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, our inventionmay be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings areillustrative only, and that change may be made in the specificconstruction illustrated and described, so long as the scope of theappended claims is not violated.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, somewhat diagrammatic in character, of thecutting and scoring mechanism and its controls;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation, in greater detail, and taken from apoint 180 removed from the position of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the cutting and scoring mechanism, lookingfrom the left-hand side of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially on the line4'4 of Fig. 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic end elevations Fig. 13 is an enlargeddetail of one of the trip rods;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged transverse section through one of the knife bars;

Fig. 15 is a fragmental elevation thereof;

Fig. 16 is a fragmental plan view of an operative detail; and

.Fig. 17 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line |'ll'|of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that ourcutter mechanism, indicated generally by the reference numeral l I, ismounted upon the base 12 immediately in advance of a control table,indicated generally by the reference numeral 13, so that thecontinuously moving stream of plaster board It or the like is fed to thecutter mechanism by a live roll conveyor I5 or the like and flows fromthe cutter mechanism onto an accelerating live roll conveyor IS on thecontrol table and continuing beyond said control table. The contro1table comprises a bed i! mounted upon standards I 8 and supporting saidaccelerating conveyor 16 and uprights l9 mounting a control mast 29 uponwhich are adjustably positioned three or more control units 21, 22, and23. In the present illustration of my invention, I have shown a cuttermechanism carrying two sets of blades; but it will be obvious that alarger number of blades may be provide-d without departing from thepresent invention, the number of blades used being limited solely by therequirement that each blade shall clear the advancing stream of boardbefore the next succeeding blade engages the stream. In the followingdescription, I shall refer to the twobladed mechanism, but it is to beunderstood throughout that a greater number of blades and controls maybe provided, in a manner well understood by any one ordinarily skilledin the art, without departing from the present invention.

The control units 2|, 22, and 23 are provided respectively with clampingelements 24, 25, and 26, whereby said units may be respectively securedto the mast 2! in any desired adjusted positions. The control unit 2|carries a pair of trip rods 21 and 28, the control unit 22 carries apair of trip rods 29 and 39, and the control unit 23 carries a pair oftrip rods 3i and 32. The mounting of each of these rods is identical,and therefore only one has been shown in Fig. 13. As is clearly showntherein, the rod 28 is secured in place in a bracket 33 by a wing screw34, so that the rod 28 may, if desired, be raised out of the path of theadvancing stream of board l4.

is longitudinally slidably mounted a shifting key I01 having a head I08projecting into the rack keyway I05 and held againstlongitudinal-movement with respect thereto between key I03 and the endof keyway I05. ,At its opposite end, the shifting key I01 is formed witha cammed head I09 for a purpose later to be explained, and a springfinger IIO constantly urges said head I09 outwardly of the keyway I06.

Three axially spaced pinions III, H2, and H3,

of progressively increasing diameters are axially immovably butrotatably mounted on shaft II1. Spacer rings H4, H5, and H6 are providedfor a purpose which will appear hereinafter.

Fixedly mounted upon the input shaft 99 of the transmission are threegears H8, H9, and I20, of progressively decreasing diameters, constantlymeshing, respectively, with the pinions III, H2, and H3. Fixed to a rockshaft I2I, mounted in suitable bearings in the casing I9I, is a pinionI22 meshing with the rack I02, and a manipulating lever I22 is securedto an end of said shaft I2I outside the casing. Suitable indicia and/orholding means for cooperation with the lever I22 may be provided.

It will be obvious that, with the parts in the positions illustrated inFig. 8, the pinion III is non-rotatably connected to the shaft H1 andwill therefore transmit power from shaft 99 to shaft H1, at high speed,because of its engagement with gear H8. If, now, the shaft IZI is turnedcounter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 8, the right-hand cam face of headI09 will come into contact with ring II5, whereby said head will bemoved inwardly against the tendency of spring H and will be disengagedfrom pinion I II. Continued movement in the same direction will permitthe head I09, under the influence of spring IIO, to snap into the keyslot of pinion II2, thus connecting the pinion II2 to the shaft I I1 todrive the same at intermediate speed, from gear II9. Still furthermovement of shaft I 2I in the same direction will similarly cause headI09 to be disengaged from pinion H2 and engaged with pinion II3 to drivethe output shaft H1 at low speed from. gear I20. Thus, any one of thepinions III, H2, and H3 may be selectively keyed to shaft I I1 throughthe key I01.

Conversely, movement of the shaft I2I in a clockwise direction from theposition of Fig. 8 will disengage the head I09 from the pinion III andmove it into a position to the left of ring H4, wherein the output shaftII1 will not be driven. It is to be noted that the head I08 of key I01will come into contact with the end of keyway I06 just before theright-hand end of key I01 leaves the ring II4, whereby the key I01 isheld against disengagement from the keyway I06.

A chain I26 (Fig. 1) provides a driving connection between a sprocketI21 mounted on output shaft H1, and a sprocket I28 mounted on the camshaft 93, so that the cam shaft 93 is driven with the output shaft 1,and at a speed corresponding to that of said shaft H1.

The Hilliard clutch 63 (see Figs. 2 and 3) includes, of course, a stopcam I29 with which cooperates a pawl I30. Said pawl I30 is fixed to arock shaft I3I which is controlled by a lever I32 resiliently urged byspring I33 to a position in which the pawl I30 may engage the stop camI29 to arrest rotation of the inner element of the clutch, and so of thecountershaft 49.

- into four-foot lengths.

Obviously, it is necessary to move the pawl I30 out of obstructingposition when it is desired to drive the knife shafts 10 and 16continuously; and to that end, the bar 6| (see Figs. 3 and 16) carries acam plate I34, so shaped that, when the bar BI is in its right-handposition, the spring I33 may hold the lever. I32 in the position of Fig..2; but that, when-the bar 6I is moved to its left-handposition,.the;..cam plate I34 will move the lever to the right, asviewed in Fig. 2, to'shift the pawl I30 out of the path of the stop camI29.

Thus, when the lever 55 is moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, toengageclutch element 54 with clutch element 45, a rigid, continuousdrive for the countershaft 48 is established, and the Hilliard clutch 63is thrown out of action. With the machine so operating, and with leverI22 shifted clockwise to the limit of its movement, the machine will actto sever the board upon each half revolution of the knife shafts 10 and16. Since, in the commercial embodiments of the invention, theperimetral distance between the two knives on each shaft is only twofeet, one knife is ordinarily removed from each shaft for this type ofoperation, so that the board is cut If it is desired to cut the boardinto longer lengths, with perforations between the ends of each severedsection, the lever I22 is operated to shift the key I01 into drivingengagement with one or another of the pinions I I I, I I2, and H3,whereby the cam shaft .03 will be driven to reciprocate the knife shaft16 at the desired rate to produce perforations in the board at desiredintervals. Thus, for instance, the transmission I00 may be properlyproportioned so that, when the drive is through pinion III and twoknives are used on each shaft, the machine will out once and perforatetwice in each cycle of cam shaft 93; when the drive is through pinionH2, and one knife only is used on each shaft, the machine will out onceand perforate once in each cycle of cam shaft 93; and when the drive isthrough pinion H3 and one knife only is used on each shaft, the machinewill out once and perforate twice-in each cycle of cam shaft 93.

While four-foot board lengths are sometimes considered standard in thisart, it is frequently desirable to produce board sections of greaterlengths; and on those occasions, the intermittent operation of thepresent machine is brought into play.

Fixed to the rock shaft I3I: is an arm I9I, connected, through link I92and adjusting bolt I23, with the core or plunger I24 of a solenoid Ifixed to the machine frame; so that energization of the solenoid willresult in counter-clockwise movement of the rock shaft I3I and itsassociated elements.

Energization of the solenoid I25 will rock the shaft I3I to shift thepawl I out of the path of the stop cam I29, thereby activating theclutch 63 to provide a drive through the shaft 48 and pinion 63 to theshafts 10 and 16. Upon subsequent de-energization of the solenoid I25,the pawl I39 will drop into position to engage the stop cam I29 to stopthe driven side of the clutch 63 upon the completion of one revolutionthereof.

Energization of the solenoid I25 is controlled through the wiringdiagram of Fig. 12. Upon reference to that wiring diagram, it will beseen that the trip rod 21 is mounted upon a rocker I like the rocker I56of Fig. 13. The rocker I35 carries a switch arm I4I normally out ofcontact with terminals I42 and I43. The rocker I36 carries a switch armI44 normally in contact with terminals I45 and I46. The trip rod 29 ismounted upon a rocker I31 which carries a switch arm I41 normally out ofcontact with terminals I48 and I49. Trip rod 38 is mounted upon a rockerI38 which carries a switch arm I58 normally in contact with'terminals I!and I52. Trip rod 3| is mounted upon a rocker I39 which carries a switcharm I53 normally out of contact with terminals I54 and I55; and trip rod32 is mounted upon a rocker I48 which carries a switch arm I56 normallyin contact with terminals I51 and I56.

A source of electrical energy is indicated by the line wires I59 and I66which lead to a standard magnetic switch I6I having hot terminals I62and I63. A magnet I64 within the switch mechanism is adapted, whenenergized, to shift contacts I65 and I66 respectively into contact withterminals I62 and I63 to complete an energizing circuit, through wiresI61 and I68, for the solenoid I25. An energizing circuit for the magnetI64 is established, when the trip rod 21 is engaged by the advancingedge of the plaster board stream to swing the switch arm I4I intocontact with terminals I42 and I43, from line wire I59 through wireI69,'magnet I64, wire I18, wire I1I, terminal I46, normally closedswitch arm I44, terminal I45, wire I12, wire I13, terminal I43, switcharm I4I, terminal I42, wire I14, and wire I15, back to line Wire I68.The magnetic switch is thus shifted to establish the energizing circuitfor the solenoid, and likewise to bring contact I16 into engagement withcontact I11 to establish a holding circuit for the magnet I64, dependentsolely upon the switch arm I44; from line wire I59 through wire I69,magnet I64, wire I18, wire I1I, terminal I46, switch arm I44, terminalI45, wire I12, wire I19, wire I19, terminal I11, terminal I16, wire I88,wire I68, terminal I66, and terminal I63 to line wire I69. When theadvancing edge of the board stream strikes the trip arm 28, that holdingcircuit is broken at the switch arm I44, and the solenoid will bede-energized; so that the pawl I38 will engage the stop cam I29 toarrest the driven element of the clutch 63 after one complete revolutionthereof.

Energization of the solenoid will cause the shafts 18 and 16 to bedriven through one-half revolution, according to the set up thus fardescribed, whereby one set of knives 18 will be caused to operate uponthe board and to move out of contact with the board. When the advancingstream of board now strikes the trip rod 29, the magnet I64 will beenergized through a circuit traced from line wire I59 through wire I69,magnet I64, wire I18, wire I8I, terminal I52, switch arm I58, terminalI5I, wire I82, wire I93, terminal I49, switch arm I41, terminal I48,wire I84, and wire I15 to line wire I68 toshift the magnetic switchtoenergize the solenoid and to establish a holding circuit through theswitch arm I58 and wire I85, wire I19, terminal I11, terminal I16, wireI88, wire I68, terminal I66, and terminal I63. When the advancing boardstrikes trip arm 38, the said holding circuit will be broken, and thesolenoid will be again de-energized.

Similarly, when the board strikes trip arm 3 I, an energizing circuitfor the magnet I64 will be established from line wire I59, wire I69,magnet I64, wire I18, wire I86, terminal I58, switch arm I56, terminalI51, wire I81, wire I88, terminal I55, switch arm I53, terminal I54,wire I89, and wire I15 to line wire I68 to shift the magnetic switch toenergize the solenoid I25 and to establish a holding circuit thereforthrough the switch arm I56 and wire I98, wire I19, terminal I11,terminal I16, wire I88, wire I68, terminal I66, and terminal I63, toline wire I68. When the advancing board strikes trip arm 32, the saidholding circuit will be broken and the solenoid will be againde-energized.

Of course, upon each energization of the solenoid I25, the rock shaftI3I will be shifted to disengage the pawl I 38 from the stop cam I29, tostart an operation of the shafts 18 and 16. Since the solenoid is againde-energized very promptly after such movement of the rock shaft I3I,the spring I33 will throw the pawl I38 promptly back into position toblock the cam I29, so that the shafts 18 and 16 will rotate only farenough to bring one pair of knives into and through cooperative relationwith the moving stream of board.

To maintain accuracy in the distance between cuts or scores on themoving stream of board, it is essential that each operating movement ofthe knife shafts shall start at exactly the same point. A Hilliardclutch, of course, includes a resiliently-controlled lost motion, and,while its stopping position is reasonably accurate, it is not absolute.In the present machine, absolute accuracy of stopping position isessential if accurate board-section length is to be attained, and wehave therefore provided means for attaining that absolute accuracy.

Mounted on the shaft 18 near the clutch 63 are two cams I93 and I94 (seeFigs. 2, 10, and 11). The cam I93 is formed with two diametricallyopposite stop faces I and I96, while the cam I94 is formed with only onestop face I91 which registers exactly with the stop face I95 of cam I93.The two cams are longitudinally spaced somewhat from each other on theshaft 18, and are dependently axially slidable on the shaft. A leverI98, pivoted on bracket I99 on the machine frame, terminates in a yok288 engaging oppositely projecting pins on a collar 28I operativelyconnected to the two cams I93 and I94 to shift the same axially on theshaft 18. In

one extreme position of the lever I98, the cam I93 registers with a pawl282 fixed on the rock shaft I3I, and in the other extreme position ofthe lever I98, the cam I94 registers with said pawl 282. The parts areso proportioned that, in the operation of the machine, the stop cam I29will come into engagement with the pawl I38 momentarily before the stopface I95 or I96 of cam I93 or the stop face I91 of cam I94 comes intoengagement with the pawl 282.

The hub or outer member 283 of the Hilliard clutch 63 carries a sprocket284 which is connected by a chain 285 to drive a sprocket 286. Saidsprocket 286 is rotatably mounted on shaft 16; but its web portion 281is positioned between two friction plates 288 and 289 keyed to saidshaft. A coiled spring 2I8 bears against the plate 289; and the degreeof frictional drag between the sprocket 286 and the shaft 16 isadjustable through the medium of a nut 2 I I threaded on the shaft 16and constituting an abutment for the opposite end of the spring 2I8.

Because the shaft 16 is supported in the vertically-movable carriers 89,provision must be made for slack in chain 285 resulting from variationsin the center distance between sprockets 284 and 286. Secured toframe-element 51 is a leaf spring 2i2 (Fig, 17), the free end of whichcarries a trunnion M3 for an idler sprocket 2M positioned to bearagainst one run of chain 205 between the sprockets 294 and 205. Theeffect of the spring 2I2, urging the sprocket 2I4 always toward theright in Fig. 17, is to maintain the chain 205 resiliently taut at alltimes.

Thus, at all times when the clutch element is in engagement with theclutch element 35, the sprocket 296 is exerting a frictional forcetending to drive the machine forward. If, after the stop cam E29 engagesthe pawl I38, the machine tends to come to a stop short of the positionof absolute accuracy, that frictional drag will drive the machineforward until one of the stop faces of the cam I93 or of the cam i9 3(whichever is then in registry) engages the pawl 2532. The speed atwhich the shaft is may be driven through the sprocket 205 is preferablysomewhat less than the normal speed of the machine.

It will be clear from the above that, at times when the machine is underthe control of the Hilliard clutch 63, the solenoid I25 will beenergized whenever the advancing stream of board strikes one of thefingers 2?, 28, or 3!; and then will be promptly de-energized when theboard stream strikes the corresponding finger or 32. Such action of thesolenoid will result in a single rotation of countersh-aft 53 throughclutch 53; and the machine will be stopped, after rotation of shafts I9and It through exactly 186, by the pawl 282. Of course, whenever heshafts IO and T6 are driven, they are rotated at a speed such that thelineal velocity of the knives they enter the board is substantiallyequal to the lineal velocity of the board.

When only one knife is carried on each cutter shaft, to cut, or to cutand score, plaster board in lengths of more than four feet, the leverI98 is shifted to move cam I54 into registry with stop pawl 292. When,now, the solenoid I25 is energized to rock shaft ISI, the pawls I30 and202 will be moved out of engagement with their respective cams, and theengagement of pawl 202 with the peripher of its cam I94 will hold thepawl I 39 in retracted position as the shaft 48 completes, and continuesbeyond, a single revolution; sothat the machine will continue to bedriven through the Hilliard clutch until, as the knife shafts complete afull revolution, the cam I94 permits the pawl 262 to move inwardly toposition the pawl lei! in the path of its cam stop face I29.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a cut-01f machine including a pair of cooperatively associatedrotary knives, a continuously-operating power source, means connectingsaid power source to drive the hub of a Hilliard-type clutch, the othermember of said clutch being connected to drive said knives, a pawloperatively associated with said other clutch member to stop and holdsaid other clutch member against rotation, resilient means urging saidpawl toward holding engagement with said other clutch member, and meansfor disengaging said pawl momentarily from said other clutch memberincluding an electric motor connected to move said pawl, uponenergization, out of retaining engagement with said other clutch member,an energizing circuit for said motor, a magnetic switch dominating saidcircuit and operable to close the same upon energization of its magnet,and means controlling energization of said magnet including anenergizing circuit for said magnet, a normally open switch connected insaid circuit, a normally closed switch connected in said circuit, saidnormally open switch being provided with a manipulator disposed in thepath of material emerging from said outoff machine and movable by suchmaterial to close said normally open switch to establish a circuitthrough said normally closed switch to energize said switch magnet, andsaid norm-ally closed switch being provided with a manipulator disposedin the path of such material beyond said first-named manipulator andmovable by such material to open said normally closed switch to breakthe energizing circuit for said switch magnet.

2. In a cut-oif machine including a pair of cooperatively associatedrotary knives, a continuously-operating power source, means connectingsaid power source to drive the hub of a Hilliard-type clutch, the othermember of said clutch being connected to drive said knives, a pawloperatively associated with said other clutch member to stop and holdsaid other clutch member against rotation, resilient means urging saidpawl toward holding engagement with said other clutch member, and meanfor disengaging said pawl momentarily from said other clutch memberincluding an electric motor connected to move said pawl, uponenergization, out of retaining engagement with said other clutch member,an energizing circuit for said motor, a magnetic switch dominating saidcircuit and operable to close the same upon energization of its magnet,and means controlling energization of said magnet including anenergizing circuit for said magnet, a normally open switch connected insaid circuit, a normally closed switch connected in said circuit, acontrol unit for said two last-named switches, said unit beingadjustably mounted on a support extending substantially parallel withthe path of movement of material emerging from said cut-off machine andcarrying a manipulator for said normally open switch disposed in thepath of material emerging from said cut-off machine and movable by suchmaterial to close said normally open switch to establish a circuitthrough said normally closed switch to energize said switch magnet, andcarrying also a manipulator for said normally closed switch disposed inthe path of such material beyond said first-named manipulater andmovable by such material to open said normally closed switch to breakthe energizing circuit for said switch magnet.

3. In a cut-off machine including a pair of cooperatively associatedrotary knives, a continuously-operating power source, means connectingsaid power source to drive the hub of a Hilliard-type clutch, the othermember of said clutch being connected to drive said knives, a

, pawl operatively associated with said other clutch member to stop andhold said other clutch member against rotation, resilient means urgingsaid pawl toward holding engagement with said other clutch member, andmeans for disengaging said pawl momentarily from said other clutchmember including an electric motor connected to move said pawl, uponenergization, out of retaining engagement with said other clutch memher,an energizing circuit for said motor, a magnetic switch dominating saidcircuit and operable to close the same upon energization of its magnet,and means controlling energization of said magnet including a pluralityof parallel energizing circuits for said magnet, each including anormally open switch-and a norinally closed switch, a support extendingsubstantially parallel with the path of movement of material emergingfrom said cut-off machine, and a plurality of control units, one foreach of said last-named energizing circuits, adjustably mounted on saidsupport, each of said control units carrying a manipulator for itsnormally open switch disposed in the path of material emerging from saidcut-off machine and movable by such material to close its normally openswitch to establish a circuit through its associated normally closedswitch to energize said switch magnet, and each of said control unitscarrying also a manipulator for its normally closed switch disposed inthe path of such material beyond said first-named manipulator andmovable by such material to open its normally closed switch to break theenergizing circuit for said switch magnet.

4. In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperatively associated rotaryknives, gearing connecting said knives to rotate equally and oppositely,a countershaft, gearing connecting said countershaft to drive saidknives, a continuously-operating power source, a Hilliard-type clutchconnecting said source to drive said countershaft, a stop cam rotatablewith one of said knives, a pawl cooperable with said cam, at times, tostop said knives exactly at a, predetermined point, and meansindependent of said Hilliard-type clutch connecting said power source todrive said knives, said last-named means including a friction connectionthrough which said power source continuously tends to drive said knives.v

5. In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperatively associated rotaryknives, gearing connecting said knives to rotate equally and oppositely,a continuously-operating power source, 'means including a Hilliard-typeclutch connecting said source to drive said knives, a stop cam rotatablewith one of said knives, a pawl cooperable with said cam, at times, tostop said knives exactly at a predetermined point, and means independentof said Hilliard-type clutch connecting said power source to drive saidknives, said last-named means including a friction connection throughwhich said power source continuously tends to drive said knives.

6. In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperatively associated rotaryknives, gearing connecting said knives to rotate equally and oppositely,a continuously-operating power source, means including a Hilliard-typeclutch connecting said source to drive said knives, a stop cam rotatablewith one of said knives, a pawl cooperable with said cam, at times, tostop said knives exactly at a predetermined point, an element looselymounted on the axis of one of said knives, a friction member fixed torotate with said knife,means pressing said friction member into contactwith said element, and means providing a driving connection between saidsource and said element.

'7. In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperatively associated rotaryknives, gearing connecting said knives to rotate equally and oppositely,a continuously-operating power source, means including a Hilliard-typeclutch connecting said source to drive said knives, a stop cam rotatablewith one of said knives, a pawl cooperable with said cam, at times, tostop said knives exactly at a predetermined point, an element looselymounted 'on the axis of one of said knives, a friction member fixed torotate with said knife, resilient means pressing said friction memberinto contact with said element, means for varying the degree of forceexerted upon said friction member by said resilient means, and meansproviding a driving connection between said source and said element.

8. In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperatively associated rotaryknives, gearing connecting said knives to rotate equally and oppositely,a continuously-operating power source, means including a Hilliard-typeclutch connecting said source to drive said knives, a stop cam rotatablewith one of said knives, a pawl cooperable with said cam, at times, tostop said knives exactly at a predetermined point, a friction memberfixed on the axis of one of said knives, an element loosely mounted onsaid axis in juxtaposition to said friction member, a second frictionmember axially movable with respect to said axis but rotatably fixedthereto in juxtaposition to said element and spaced thereby from saidfirst friction member, means exerting a pressure upon said secondfriction member and urging the same into contact with said element, andmeans providing a driving connection between said source and saidelement.

9. In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperatively associated rotaryknives, gearing connecting said knives to rotate equally and oppositely,a continuously-operating power source, means including a Hilliard-typeclutch connecting said source to drive said knives, a stop cam rotatablewith one of said knives, a pawl cooperable with said cam, at times, tostop said knives exactly at a predetermined point, a friction memberfixed on the axis of one of said knives, an element loosely mounted onsaid axis in juxtaposition to said friction member, a second frictionmember axially movable with respect to said axis but rotatably fixedthereto in juxtaposition to said element and spaced thereby from saidfirst friction member, means exerting a resilient pressure upon saidsecond friction member and urging the same into contact with saidelement, means for varying the degree of such resilient pressure, andmeans providing a driving connection between said source and saidelement.

10. In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperatively associated rotaryknives, gearing connecting said knives to rotate equally and oppositely,a continuously-operating power source, means including a Hilliard-typeclutch connecting said source to drive said knives, a stop cam rotatablewith one of said knives, a pawl cooperable with said cam, at times, tostop said knives exactly at a predetermined point, a friction memberfixed on the axis of one of said knives, an element loosely mounted onsaid axis in juxtaposition to said friction member, a second frictionmember axially movable with respect to said axis but rotatably fixedthereto in juxtaposition to said element and spaced thereby from saidfirst friction member, a coiled spring mounted on said axis and bearingat one end against said second friction member, a nut adjustablymounted'on said axis and forming an abutment for the other end of saidspring, and means providing a driving connection between said source andsaid element.

11. In a cut-off machine, aframe, a first knife shaft journalled in saidframega' second knife shaft substantially paraxial with said first knifeshaft, said second knife shaft being journalled in bearings reciprocableon lines substantially perpendicular with the axis of said first knifeshaft, means for driving said first knife shaft, a gear rotatable withsaid first knife shaft, 2, gear journalled on said frame and meshingwith said firstnamed gear, and an Oldham coupling providing a drivingconnection between said second-mentioned gear and said second knifeshaft.

12. In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperatively associated rotaryknives, gearing connecting said knives to rotate equally and oppositely,a continuously-operating power source, means including a Hilliard-typeclutch connecting said source to drive said knives, said clutchincluding a stop cam, a second stop cam rotatable with one of saidknives, a rock shaft, a pawl fixed to said rock shaft and movable, uponoscillation of said rock shaft, into and out of the path of said clutchstop cam, a second pawl fixed to said rock shaft and movable, uponoscillation of said rock shaft, into and out of the path of said secondstop cam, said pawls being so associated that, when one is disposed inthe path of its cam, the other is likewise disposed in the path of itscam, means providing a frictional drive connection between said powersource and said one knife independent of said clutch, and means forshifting said rock shaft to move both said pawls simultaneously out ofengagement with their respective cams.

13. In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperatively associated rotaryknives, gearing connecting said knives to rotate equally and oppositely,a continuously-operating power source, means including a Hilliard-typeclutch connecting said source to drive said knives, said clutchincluding a stop cam, a rock shaft, a pawl fixed to said rock shaft andmovable, upon oscillation of said rock shaft, into and out of the pathof said clutch stop cam, a second stop cam and a third stop camrotatable with, but axially reciprocable with respect to, the axis ofone of said knives, a second pawl fixed to said rock shaft, means forselectively shifting said second and third stop cams into registry withsaid second pawl, said pawls being so associated that, when one isdisposed in the path of its cam, the other is likewise disposed in thepath of its cam, means providing a frictional drive connection betweensaid power source and said one knive independent of said clutch, andmeans for shifting said rock shaft to move both said pawlssimultaneously out of engagement with their respective cams.

14. In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperatively associated rotaryknives, gearing connecting said knives to rotate equally and oppositely,a continuously-operating power source, a Hilliard-type clutch drivinglyconnected to said knives, and means for alternatively connecting saidpower source to drive said knives directly and to drive said knivesthrough said Hilliardtype clutch.

15. In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperatively associated rotaryknives, gearing connecting said knives to rotate equally and oppositely,a continuously-operating power source, a Hilliard-type clutch drivinglyconnected to said knives, said clutch including a stop cam and a pawlcooperative therewith, means resiliently urging said pawl into blockingrelation with said cam, and means for alternatively connecting saidpower source to drive said knives directly and to drive said knivesthrough said Hilliard-type clutch, said last-mentioned means includingmeans for automatically shifting said pawl out of blocking relation withsaid cam upon connection of said power source to drive said knivesdirectly.

16. In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperatively associated rotaryknives, gearing connecting said knives to rotate equally and oppositely,a continuously-operating power source, a Hilliard-type clutch drivinglyconnected to said knives, said clutch including a stop cam and a pawlcooperative therewith, a second stop cam mounted to rotate with one ofsaid knives, a second pawl cooperative therewith, means resilientlyurging said pawls into blocking relation with their re-v spective cams,and means for alternatively connecting said power source to drive saidknives directly and to drive said knives through said Hilliard-typeclutch, said last-mentioned means including means for automaticallyshifting said pawls out of blocking relation with their respective camsupon connection of said power source to drive said knives directly.

17. In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperative- 1y associated rotaryknives, gearing connecting said knives to rotate equally and oppositely,a shaft drivingly connected to one of said knives, an element freelyrotatable on said shaft, a continuously operating power source,drivingly connected to said element, a Hilliard-type clutch having itsdriven member drivingly connected to said shaft, means shiftable toclutch said element to the driving member of said Hilliardtype clutch,means shiftable to clutch said element directly to drive said shaft,said shiftable means being dependently movable to prevent simultaneousoperative association thereof with said element.

18. In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperatively associated rotaryknives, gearing connecting said knives to rotate equally and oppositely,a shaft drivingly connected to one of said knives, an element freelyrotatable on said shaft, a continuously-operating power source,drivingly connected to said element, a Hilliard-type clutch having itsdriven member drivingly connected to said shaft, said member including astop cam, a pawl cooperative therewith, means resiliently urging saidpawl into blocking relation with said cam, means shiftable to clutchsaid element to the driving member of said Hilliard-type clutch, meansshiftable to clutch said element directly to drive said shaft, saidshiftable means being dependently movable to prevent simultaneousoperative association thereof with said element, and means, operable bymovement of said shiftable means to position to clutch said elementdirectly to said shaft, to shift said pawl out of blocking relation withsaid cam.

19. In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperatively associated rotaryknives, gearing connecting said knives to rotate equally and oppositely,a shaft drivingly connected to one of said knives, an element freelyrotatable onsaid shaft, a continuously-operating power source, drivinglyconnected to said element, a Hilliard-type clutch having its drivenmember drivingly connected to said shaft, said member including a stopcam, a pawl cooperative therewith, a second stop cam mounted to rotatewith one of said knives, a second pawl cooperative therewith, meansresiliently urging said pawls into blocking relation with theirrespective cams, means shiftable to clutch said element to the drivingmember of said Hilliard-type clutch, means shiftable to clutch saidelement directly to drive said shaft, said shiftable means beingdependently movable to prevent simultaneous operative associationthereof with said element, and means, operable by movementof saidshiftable means to position to clutch said element directly to saidshaft, to shiftsaid pawls out of blocking relation with their respectivecams.

20. In a cut-oii machine, a frame, a pair of cooperatively associatedrotary knives journalled in said frame, gearing connecting said knivesto rotate equally and oppositely, a countershaft journalled in saidframe, a continuously operating source of power, an element axiallyfixed on, but rotatable with respect to, said countershaft, clutchsurfaces formed on the opposite ends of said element, means providing adriving connection between said source and said element, a clutch memberslidably keyed to said shaft, a lever for moving said member into andout of clutched relation with said element, a Hilliardtype clutch havingits driven member drivingly connected to said countershaft, a clutchmember slidably keyed to the driving member of said Hilliard-typeclutch, a lever for moving said last-mentionedclutch member into and outof clutched relation with said element, and means connecting said leversfor dependent movement to prevent simultaneous engagement of said clutchmembers with said element.

21. In a cut-off machine, a frame, a pair of cooperatively associatedrotary knives journalled in said frame, gearing connecting said knivesto rotate equally and oppositely, a countershaft journalled in saidframe, a continuously-operating source of power, an element axiallyfixed on, but rotatable with respect to, said countershaft, clutchsurfaces formed on the opposite ends of said element, means providing adriving connection between said source and said element, a clutch memberslidably keyed to said shaft, a lever for moving said member into andout of clutched relation with said element, a Hilliardtype clutch havingits driven member drivingly connected to said countershaft, a clutchmember slidably keyed to the driving member of said Hilliard-typeclutch, a lever for moving said lastmentioned clutch member into and outof clutched relation with said element, means connecting said levers fordependent movement to prevent simultaneous engagement of said clutchmembers with said element, the driven member of said Hilliard-typeclutch being provided with a stop cam, a pawl movable into and out ofthe path of said cam, and cam means movable by operation of said levers,and operable, upon movement of said first-mentioned slidable clutchmember into clutched relation with said element,

to shift said pawl out of the path of said cam.

22. In a cut-off machine, a frame, a pair of cooperatively associatedrotary knives journalled in said frame, gearing connecting said knivesto rotate equally and oppositely, a countershaft journalled in saidframe, a continuously operating source of power, an element axiallyfixed on, but rotatable with respect to, said countershaft, clutchsurfaces formed on the opposite ends of said element, means providing adriving connection between said source and said element, a clutch memberslidably keyed to said shaft, a lever for moving said member into andout of clutched relation with said element, a Hilliardtype clutch havingits driven member drivingly connected to said countershaft, a clutchmember slidably keyed to the driving member of said Hilliard-typeclutch, a lever for moving said last-mentioned clutch member into andout of ,clutched relation with said element, means conpreventsimultaneous engagement of'said clutch members with said element, thedriven member of said Hilliard-type clutch being provided with a stopcam, a pawl movable into and out of the path of said cam, a second stopcam mounted to rotate with one of said knives, a second pawl movableinto and out of the path of said second cam, and cam means movable byoperation of said levers and operable, upon movement of saidlast-mentioned slidable clutch member into clutched relation with saidelement, to shift said pawls out of the paths of their respective cams.

23. In a cut-off machine, a first knife shaft, a second knife shaft, oneof said shafts being bodily shiftable to vary the center distancebetween said shafts, a countershaft, a source of power, means providinga driving connection between said source and said countershaft, asprocket on said countershaft, a sprocket on said shiftable shaft, achain providing a driving connection between said sprockets, an idlersprocket, and a leaf spring anchored adjacent one end and providing ajournal mounting for said idler sprocket adjacent its opposite end, saidspring pressing said idler sprocket resiliently against said chain at apoint between said sprockets.

24. In a cut-off machine including a pair of cooperatively associatedrotary knives, a continuously-operating power source, means connectingsaid power source to drive the input element of a Hilliard-type clutch,the output element of said clutch being connected to drive said knives,a pawl associated with said output element and biased toward a positionto stop and hold said output element against rotation, and meansmomentarily operative upon said pawl to move the same out of suchstopping position and then promptly to release said pawl.

25. In a cut-off machine including a pair of cooperatively associatedrotary knives, a continuously-operating power source, means connectingsaid power source to drive the input element of a Hilliard-type clutch,the output element of said clutch being connected to drive said knives,a pawl associated with said output element and biased toward a positionto stop and hold said output element against rotation, and meansmomentarily operative upon said pawl to move the same out of suchstopping position and then propmtly to release said pawl, said lastnamedmeans being actuable by movement of material through said machine;

26. In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperatively associated rotaryknives, gearing connecting said shafts to rotate equally and oppositely,a continuously-operating power source, means including a Hilliard-typeclutch connecting said source to drive said knives, a stop cam rotatablewith one of said knives, a pawl cooperable with said cam, at times, tostop said knives exactly at a predetermined point, and means independentof said Hilliard-type clutch connecting said power source to drive saidknives, said lastnamed means including a friction connection throughwhich said power source continuously tends to drive said knives, saidlast-named means being geared to drive said knives at a speed less thanthe speed at which said first-named driving means drives the same.

27; In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperatively associated rotaryknives, gearing connecting said knives to rotate equally and oppositely,a continuously-operating power source, means including a Hilliard-typeclutch connecting said source to drive said knives, said clutchincluding a stop cam, a rock shaft, a pawl fixed to said rock shaft andmovable, upon oscillation of said rock shaft, into and out of the pathof said clutch stop cam, a second stop cam and a third stop camrotatable with, but axially reciprocable with respect to, the axis ofone of said knives, a second pawl fixed to said rock shaft, means forselectively shifting said second and third stop cams into registry withsaid second pawl, said pawls being so associated that, when one isdisposed in the path of its cam, the other is likewise disposed in thepath of its cam, means providing a frictional drive connection betweensaid power source and said one knife independent of said clutch, andmeans for shifting said rock shaft to move both said pawlssimultaneously out of engagement with their respective cams, said secondstop cam being formed with two stop faces, exactly 180 removed from eachother, and said third stop cam being formed with one stop face only,said one stop face of said third cam registering exactly with one stopface of said second cam, and the portion of said third cam registeringwith the other stop face of said second cam being shaped to hold saidfirst pawl out of the path of the stop face of said first cam.

28. In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperative- 1y associated knives,gearing connecting said knives to move substantially equally andoppositely, a continuously-operating power source, clutch means at timesconnecting said source to drive said knife, stop means cooperating withsaid knives, at times, to stop said knives exactly at a predeterminedpoint, and means independent of said clutch means connecting said powersource to drive said knives, said last-named means including a frictionconnection through which said power source continuously tends to drivesaid knives.

29. In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperatively associated knives,gearing connecting said knives to move substantially equally andoppositely, a continuously-operating power source, means including asingle-revolution clutch at times connecting said source to drive saidknives, stop means cooperating with said knives, at times, to stop saidknives exactly at a predetermined point, and means independent of saidclutch connecting said power source to drive said knives, saidlast-named means including a friction connection through which saidpower source continuously tends to drive said knives.

30. In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperative- 1y associated knives,gearing connecting said knives to move substantially equally andoppositely, a continuously-operating power source, a

single-revolution clutch drivingly connected to said knives, and meansfor alternatively connecting said power source to drive said knivesdirectly and to drive said knives through said clutch.

31. In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperatively associated knives,gearing connecting said knives to move substantially equally andoppositely, a continuously-operating power source, a drive trainincluding clutch means at times connecting said source to drive saidknives, an alternative drive train between said source and said knivesby-passing said clutch means, and means shiftable to render saidrespective drive trains alternatively effective.

32. In a cut-off machine, a first knife shaft, a second knife shaft, oneof said shafts being bodily shiftable to vary the center distancebetween said shafts, a source of power, means, including an endlessflexible member, providing a driving connection between said powersource and said shiftable shaft, idler means bearing on said flexibleelement, and a leaf spring anchored adjacent one end and supporting saididler means adjacent its opposite end, said spring pressing said idlermeans resiliently against said flexible element at a point between saidshiftable shaft and a member drivingly connected thereto by saidflexible element.

33. In a cut-off machine, a frame, a first knife shaft journalled insaid frame, a second knife shaft substantially paraxial with said firstknife shaft, said second knife shaft being journalled in bearingsreciprocable on lines substantially perpendicular with the axis of saidfirst knife shaft, means for driving said first knife shaft, a gearrotatable with said first knife shaft, a gear journalled on said frameand meshing with said firstnamed gear, an Oldham coupling providing adriving connection between said second-mentioned gear and said secondknife shaft, and means for reciprocating said knife shaft bearings atspeeds variously related to the speed of rotation of said knife shafts.

34. In a cut-off machine, a pair of cooperatively associated knives,gearing connecting said knives to move substantially equally andoppositely, a continuously operated power source, a drive trainincluding a clutch, a drive train bypassing said clutch, said drivetrain alternatively connecting said power source to drive said knives,and each of said drive trains consisting solely of elements incapable ofrelative slippage.

JOHN R. ROSENLEAF. EMMETT D. BENHAM.

y 1942- J. R. ROSENLEAF any 2,288,922

CUTOFF MACHINE ADJUSTMENT I Filed Aug. 27, 1941 INVENTOR. JUHN R.ROJENLEHF mvo BY EMME

